Kingdom Hearts' Rebirth: A Franchise Reborn

Kingdom Hearts creator Tetsuya Nomura recently hinted at a pivotal shift for the series with the upcoming fourth mainline installment. Discover what he revealed about this crucial chapter.

Nomura Hints at a Series Conclusion with Kingdom Hearts 4

Kingdom Hearts 4: A Story Reset, According to Nomura

The future of Kingdom Hearts is both captivating and potentially conclusive, according to a recent interview with Nomura. His comments regarding Kingdom Hearts 4 suggest a significant turning point.

In an interview with Young Jump (translated by KH13), Nomura stated that Kingdom Hearts 4 is being developed "with the intention of it being a story that leads to the conclusion." While not explicitly confirming a series finale, this suggests the beginning of the final saga. The game initiates the "Lost Master Arc," a fresh narrative accessible to both newcomers and veterans.

Nomura explained, "If you remember how the ending of Kingdom Hearts III goes, you'll understand that Sora ends up like that because he's ‘resetting’ the story in a way," adding, "So Kingdom Hearts IV should be easier to get into than before. I think that if you like the series, you'll feel like 'this is it', but I'm also hoping that as many new players as possible will play it."

While hinting at a potential end to the main storyline, Nomura's comments should be viewed within the context of the series' history. Kingdom Hearts is known for its twists and turns; a seemingly definitive ending might allow for interpretation or future spin-offs. The extensive cast of characters also presents opportunities for individual storylines, especially with Nomura's announcement of new writers joining the Kingdom Hearts universe.

Nomura told Young Jump, "Both Kingdom Hearts Missing Link and Kingdom Hearts IV have been created with a stronger focus on being new titles rather than sequels," noting the inclusion of writers new to the series. He clarified, "Of course, I will be editing it in the end, but I don't think it will be positioned as a work that needs to be done in the sense that the writer who has never been involved in the 'Kingdom Hearts' series is creating a new base."

This injection of new talent is exciting, potentially revitalizing the narrative while preserving familiar elements. Fresh perspectives could introduce innovative gameplay and unexplored territories within the Disney and Square Enix collaboration.

However, Nomura's own future is a factor. He confirmed consideration of retirement within a few years, posing the question: "If this isn't a dream, then I only have a few years left until I retire, and it's looking like: will I retire or will I finish the series first?"

A New Arc, New Beginnings

Announced in April 2022, Kingdom Hearts 4 is under development. The "Lost Master Arc" begins in the game's first trailer, showing Sora awakening in Quadratum, a world Nomura described in a 2022 Famitsu interview (translated by VGC) as an alternate reality.

Nomura stated, "From each of our perspectives, our perceptions change. From Sora’s perspective, Quadratum is an underworld, a fictional world that is different from reality. But from the point of view of the inhabitants on the Quadratum side, the world of Quadratum is reality, and the world where Sora and the others were is the other side, the fictional world."

This Tokyo-esque world, with a dreamlike quality, is not entirely new; Nomura conceived it during the first game's development.

In contrast to the whimsical Disney worlds of previous titles, Quadratum offers a more grounded setting. This, combined with enhanced visuals, results in a reduced number of Disney worlds.

Nomura told GameInformer in 2022, "With regards to Kingdom Hearts IV, players are definitely going to see a few Disney worlds in there...Since each new title, the specs have been really increasing, and there’s so much more we can do in terms of graphics, it kind of limits the number of worlds that we can create in a sense. At this time, we’re considering how to approach that, but there will be Disney worlds in Kingdom Hearts IV."

While fewer Disney worlds are a change, this streamlining could lead to a more focused narrative, mitigating the complexity of previous installments.

Whether Kingdom Hearts 4 concludes the series or initiates a new chapter, it will be a defining moment for Sora and his companions. For many fans, a culmination under Nomura's direction, though bittersweet, would be a fitting end to a story spanning over two decades.